Oh, exciting! Wow, already a lot of great questions posted, looking forward to seeing the interview!

My question is: Okada-san, many of the series you have worked on seem as though they would also make good live action shows. What advantages do you see in being able to tell these stories through an animated medium rather than live action? Are there any of your series that you would like to see turned into a live action production?

As a woman hoping to make it in the American animation industry, I really admire Ms. Okada's work in anime, and have enjoyed every show of hers that I've watched. Many of them focus on well-written, complex female characters, and the relationships between women are often crucial to the story. This is pretty rare in American animation. Ms. Okada, do you make this focus on women a conscious goal in your writing? How do you feel about the overall portrayal of women in anime today? Are you trying to break from that with your sensitive portrayals of women, or is it just something that comes naturally to you with no particular agenda in mind? I hope these questions make sense and I hope you keep creating wonderful stories!

Hanasaku Iroha was a great series watched it as it was put up on CR. Love the character interaction and the scenery. Will add to my collection once I can.
375 all original anime titles in my collection and still adding more.

So what thoughts did you have when writing Hanasaku Iroha, about Ohana's personality and take to her new life?

My question is: What important aspect of your life encouraged you to create an anime like Hanasaku Iroha? I bet you have some reasons but what was the one that was mainly inspiring? By the way, your awesome!!!

First of all, I've enjoyed watching Hanasaku Iroha and other works. I'm also looking forward watching the movie adaptation to the series. My question(s) to you is whenever you start making a future project, what do you have to do exactly to make your next projects better than your previous works? I believe Hanasaku Iroha is a great story. I would like to know is how do you make your next projects better or just as good as Hansaku Iroha and make it so appealing for audiences to view?

Of the anime projects you have worked on, what are your favorites? (Top Five, Top Three, etc.)

Is there an anime project (past, present, or future) that you want to work on, or one that you wish you had worked on?

Do you find there is a difference when writing an action screenplay (CANAAN, The Book of Bantorra), versus a slice of life show (Hana-Iro, Kita e - Diamond Dust Drops) ? Do you enjoy writing one more then the other?

I'm a big fan of your work. I noticed that in each of your works, every character is very well developed and unique. When making these characters, what is your motivation for their character development? Do you get base your characters off mere ideas which pop into your head? Acquaintances? Friends? Family? Experience? Role models?

Also, are there other pieces of works or writers that you admire? Who/what are they? and did they inspire you in any way?

Miss Mari Okada may I first say I am a big fan of a lot of your works. As for my question, how do you approach shows such as Anohana, which is an original series differently from shows like Hanasaka Iroha that have an existing source, such as a manga, also do you approach shows such as Aria the Natural or Rozen Maiden where you write scripts for a few episodes separately than that. I look forward to your response and thank you.

For Hanasaku Iroha did you visit different kinds of ryokans? If so how many did you go to?
When writing scripts have you ever used a situation that has happened to you or someone that you know?
Does your family watch any of the animes you had a part in (Script, Series Composition, etc.)